Actor comes out as undocumented

Bambadjan Bamba has only the fondest memories of growing up in the African country of Cote D’Ivoire. But in 1993, after that nation’s first president died and it became politically unstable, Bamba’s family fled to the United States. At 10, America became his new home.

Twenty-five years later, however, the actor doesn’t quite feel like an American. Sure, he’s perfected the accent. But since high school, he’s carried a secret burden he’s ready to reveal: He’s undocumented.

Bamba, one of an estimated 11 million undocumented people living in the U.S., according to Pew research, told few of his citizenship status — until now.

Motivated by the Trump administration’s efforts to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, the “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Suicide Squad” and “Black Panther” actor is breaking his silence.

“Immigrants are not criminals,” said Bamba, 35. “We’re not here to take away your jobs. We’re here to give back. We’re not just Mexicans or Latino. We’re black too. We’re from the Middle East, from Asia too. We’re your neighbors, your doctors, the teachers of your children, and sometimes we’re on TV in your home, characters that you love. We’re just one of you.”

About coming out as undocumented, he said, “I felt like God was telling me, ‘This is your time to do it. You have to do it.’ I look at my daughter and I’m like, ‘If I don’t do it, and DACA gets canceled, I could be separated (from her).’ I’d rather go out fighting.

“All these kids that have so much less than I do, they’re standing up. They’re sleeping in front of the White House or in front of their congressman’s office. I’m sitting here being scared. But we’re done with fear. We’re here to stay. Let’s push. Let’s fight, because nothing is going to be given for free.”